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Cook hearing continued to allow time for more negotiations

A court hearing for a Morrilton woman charged with capital murder was continued to allow the prosecution and defense more time to negotiate.

Sierra Cook, 19, appeared briefly before Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio on Monday morning. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Troy Braswell said there have been negotiations with the defense, and had no objections to continuing Cook’s hearing.

Maggio set the next hearing for the capital murder suspect for March 3.

Braswell told the court the prosecution has a transcript of a statement the defendant previously made, and would provide a copy to the defense, which already has audio of the statement, Monday.

Cook is one of two people charged with capital murder for an alleged role in the 2013 Father’s Day double-shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Quenton Alexander.

Police responded to Motel 6, located at 1105 Skyline Drive, around 1:30 a.m. June 16, and discovered Alexander shot to death in the parking lot. A 20-year-old Vilonia man was also injured in the shooting.

Cook and Lee Andrew Foster, 28, also charged with capital murder, were arrested June 20 in Morrilton. Cook, represented by private attorney Frank Shaw, was originally charged with hindering the apprehension of Foster, and was additionally charged with capital murder Sept. 24.

Prosecutors have decided not to pursue the death penalty in Cook’s case, but will seek it in Foster’s case.

Foster, also of Morrilton, faces additional charges of first-degree battery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a certain person. He is next scheduled for court Feb. 26.

(Staff writer Lee Hogan can be reached by email at lee.hogan@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1246. Follow Lee Hogan on Twitter at twitter.com/LCD_LeeHogan.)